University of Valencia
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USH3A transcripts encode clarin-1, a four-transmembrane-domain protein with a possible role in sensory synapses
No full textUsher syndrome type II is the most common form of Usher syndrome. USH2A is the main responsible gene of the three known to be responsible for this pathology. It encodes two isoforms of the protein usherin. This protein is part of an interactome that plays an essential role in the development and function of inner ear hair cells and photoreceptors. The gene contains 72 exons spanning over a region of 800 kb. Although numerous mutations have been described, the c.2299delG mutation is the most prevalent in several populations. Its ancestral origin was previously suggested after the identification of a common core haplotype restricted to 250 kb in the 5´ region, which encodes the short usherin isoform. By extending the haplotype analysis over the 800 kb region of the USH2A gene with a total of 14 intragenic SNPs, we have been able to define 10 different c.2299delG haplotypes showing high variability but preserving the previously described core haplotype. An exhaustive c.2299delG/control haplotype study suggests that the major source of variability in the USH2A gene is recombination. Furthermore, we have evidenced twice the amount of recombination hotspots located in the 500 kb that covers the 3´ end of the gene, explaining the higher variability observed in this region when compared to the 250 kb of the 5' region. Our data confirm the common ancestral origin of the c.2299delG mutation and the estimation of its allelic age reveals that c.2299delG may have arisen about 5 500-6 000 years ago
Cognitive phenotypes in patients with drugresistant temporal lobe epilepsy: Relationships with cortisol and affectivity
No full textObjective: Drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a neurological disorder characterized by cognitive deficits. This study examined whether patients with TLE and different cognitive phenotypes differ in cortisol levels and affectivity while controlling for demographic and clinical variables. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 79 adults with TLE underwent neuropsychological evaluation in which memory, language, attention/processing speed, executive function, and affectivity were assessed. Six saliva samples were collected in the afternoon to examine the ability of the hypothalamicpituitary- adrenal (HPA) axis to descend according to the circadian rhythm (C1 to C6). The cortisol area under the curve concerning ground (AUCg) was computed to examine global cortisol secretion. Results: Three cognitive phenotypes were identified: memory impairment, generalized impairment, and no impairment. The memoryimpairment phenotype showed higher cortisol levels at C4, C5, and C6 than the other groups (p = 0.03, η2 = 0.06), higher cortisol AUCg than the generalized-impairment phenotype (p = 0.004, η2 = 0.14), and a significant reduction in positive affectivity after the evaluation (p = 0.026, η2 = 0.11). Higher cortisol AUCg and reductions in positive affectivity were significant predictors of the memory-impairment phenotype (p < 0.001; Cox and Snell R2 = 0.47). Conclusions: Patients with memory impairment had a slower decline in cortisol levels in the afternoon, which could be interpreted as an inability of the HPA axis to inhibit itself. Thus, chronic stress may influence hippocampus-dependent cognitive function more than other cognitive functions in patients with TLE
Adaptaciones en el modelo de asociaciones empresariales en un entorno inestable y cambiante: El caso de CEOE, Medef y Confindustria
No full textLa literatura sobre la crisis del neocorporatismo y la crisis financiera de 2008-2009 asumían que la pérdida de recursos institucionales y centralizados supondría cambios en sindicatos y asociaciones empresariales. Algunas publicaciones plantean que las asociaciones empresariales han asegurado su participación en la negociación colectiva facilitando cláusulas de exclusión para que las grandes empresas puedan desarrollar sus propias estrategias. Otros autores sugieren que las asociaciones empresariales están reforzando su capacidad de lobby y de prestación de servicios a empresas en sectores emergentes. Este artículo contribuye a la literatura existente aportando evidencia empírica sobre cambios en presupuestos, plantillas, presencia mediática y actividad de lobby ante la Unión Europea. También se discuten cambios en la representación institucional, la competición entre asociaciones empresariales y cambios en la gobernanza interna
Landscape and fuel management in the context of prehistoric and historical occupations of Cova des Moro (Manacor, Mallorca, Spain)
No full textIn this paper, the first results of charcoal analyses carried out at Cova des Moro (Manacor, Mallorca, Spain) are presented. This cave is an archaeological but also palaeontological site that provides information on endemic fauna (the extinct caprine Myotragus balearicus) before the arrival of humans and, later, the relationship between the first farmers and the landscape. Several human occupations in the cave have been documented, from the Chalcolithic (end of the 3rd millennium cal BC), the Bronze Age (2nd millennium cal BC) and, finally, the Almohad period (13th century AD), during which the cave was used for different purposes. The first results of charcoal analyses at Cova des Moro provide information about the natural plant communities exploited by humans for comparison with later sequences, enabling us to evaluate how humans managed this territory over time. The results point to the exploitation of Mediterranean woodlands with wild olive (Olea europaea), mastic (Pistacia lentiscus), green olive tree (Phillyrea), Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), juniper (Juniperus) and rockrose species (Cistus), among others; these taxa would become the main elements of Mallorca's coastal landscape in later times, and it has been proven that they would already have been present as the island's natural flora at the time humans arrived there
A video guide of five access methods to the splenic flexure: the concept of the splenic flexure box
Full text linkAim: The aim of this study was to describe all the possible approaches for laparoscopic splenic flexure mobilization (SFM), each suitable for specific situations, and create an illustrated system to show SFM approaches in an easy and practical way to make it easy to learn and teach. Methods: Two different phases. First part: Cadaver-based study of the colonic splenic flexure anatomy. In order to demonstrate the different approaches, a balloon was placed through the colonic hepatic flexure in the lesser sac without sectioning any of the fixing ligaments of the splenic flexure. Second part: A real case series of laparoscopic SFM. Results: First part: 11 cadavers were dissected. Five potential approaches to SFM were found: anterior, trans-omentum, lateral, medial infra-mesocolic, and medial trans-mesocolic. The illustrative system developed was named: Splenic Flexure 'Box'(SFBox). Second part: One of the types of SFM described in first part was used in five patients with colorectal cancer. Each laparoscopic approach to the splenic flexure was illustrated in a video accompanied by illustration aids delineating the access. Conclusion: With the cadaver dissection and subsequent demonstration in real-life laparoscopic surgery, we have shown five types of laparoscopic splenic flexure mobilization. The Splenic Flexure 'Box' is a useful way to learn and teach this surgical maneuver
Fixed points of continuous pseudocontractive mappings on convex, closed unbounded domains
No full textThe purpose in this article is to discuss under what conditions a continuous pseudocontractive mapping, in particular a nonexpansive map, has a fixed point when its domain is a closed, convex and unbounded subset of a Banach space. In fact, we will give a characterization of this property. The Halpern iterative algorithm for nonexpansive mappings is also investigated
First complete genome sequence of Tenacibaculum maritimum serotype O4, a rising threat in marine aquaculture
No full textTenacibaculum maritimum is a Gram-negative marine fish pathogen. Here, we present the complete genome sequence of strain SP9.1, representing the emerging serotype O4. Selected as a model for pathogenesis studies, this genome provides valuable insights into the genetic basis of virulence and adaptation, complementing existing data for serotype O1
Actibacterium mucosum gen. nov., sp. nov., a new marine Alphaproteobacterium from mediterranean seawater.
No full textStrain R46T, a marine alphaproteobacterium, was isolated from Mediterranean seawater at Malvarrosa beach, Valencia, Spain. It is an aerobic chemo-organotrophic, mesophilic and slightly halophilic organism, with complex ionic requirements. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences showed that strain R46T formed a separate branch within the family Rhodobacteraceae, bearing similarities below 94.7 and 80.3 %, respectively, to any other recognized species. It contained Q10 as the predominant isoprenoid quinone and C18: 1ω7c/C18: 1ω6c as the major cellular fatty acid. Phosphatidylglycerol was the only identified polar lipid, although other lipids were also detected. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 61.3 mol%. On the basis of extensive phenotypic and phylogenetic comparative analysis, it is concluded that the strain represents a novel genus and species, for which the name Actibacterium mucosum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is Actibacterium mucosum R46T (= CECT 7668T = KCTC 23349T)
The effects of European transport policy on peripheral countries: the case of Spain
No full textEurope has always had a strong modal imbalance, with road comprising a much greater share of freight transport than the alternative transport modes. Although road is the mode that best meets current transport demand requirements, it has also benefited from market failures. These market failures, including negative externalities, have led the European Union and its Member States to implement the common transport policy, the aim of which is to tackle these externalities and include their cost in the final price of transport. One of the measures undertaken in order to reflect the real costs of freight transport has been road pricing. However, this measure does not affect all Member States equally. This article focuses on the effects of road pricing for peripheral countries. Such countries feel the negative effects more strongly due to their geographical location and the fact that their modal pattern is even more unbalanced than that of Central European countries. Therefore, this paper takes a novel and practical approach by evaluating the impact of road pricing on the euros per ton cost of Spanish shipments to three European destinations. This study seeks to quantify the additional cost incurred on exports of a peripheral country (Spain) as a result of road pricing. This additional cost can logically affect the export capability of a country and its external competitiveness, especially in cases such as Spain, where its competitiveness is largely based on the price of its exports. One way to avoid the effects of road pricing is to use alternative modes, however, these modes are not always well-suited to the demand. That is why an analysis of the current state of the two main alternative modes, rail and sea, has also been carried out to determine their capability to capture traffic diverted from road. The results show a moderate impact on costs but this can, however, affect the country's competitiveness. The paper also highlights the need to work on developing alternative modes, especially rail, given the difficulties they face in competing with road and meeting demand requirements
Estudio fraseológico contrastivo chino-español de las unidades fraseológicas sománticas. Material para su aplicación en el aula ELE
No full textLa tesis tiene dos objetivos principales: en primer lugar, analizar cuantitativa y cualitativamente las UF somáticas que contienen las partes boca, cabeza, corazón, lengua y mano, registradas en los diccionarios fraseológicos chinos y españoles y presentes en corpus de ambas lenguas (CREA, CORPES, BCC), basándose en la Teoría de la Metáfora y Metonimia de Lakoff y Johnson (1986) y la equivalencia fraseológica de Wu (2018). En segundo lugar, con los resultados obtenidos del estudio anterior, elaborar un glosario bilingüe español-chino, dirigido a estudiantes sinohablantes de español (Anexo I) y que aporta contenidos semánticos e información gramatical y pragmática, que facilita el uso práctico de las mismas. Esta pequeña contribución a la lexicografía bilingüe puede servir también a estudiantes hispanohablantes que estudian chino y en el ámbito de la traducción e interpretación de ambos idiomas. Es de especial interés dada la necesidad de ampliar la investigación en el ámbito contrastivo chino-español, especialmente en los estudios fraseológicos.
El apartado teórico, punto de partida para la delimitación de las unidades y explicación del enfoque seguido, se centra en la caracterización y las clasificaciones de las UF españolas y chinas. Primero, se estudia la fraseología teórica china y española desde una perspectiva sincrónica y diacrónica y se argumentan las razones que llevan a seguir la clasificación de Corpas (1996) y la de Sun (1989). Segundo, se contrastan propiedades, semejanzas y diferencias entre locuciones, colocaciones, chengyu y guanyongyu, objeto de estudio de la tesis. Tercero, se exponen los fundamentos teóricos de la semántica cognitiva y se muestran las aportaciones de la Lingüística Cognitiva a la fraseología española y china. Por último, dada la finalidad didáctica de la tesis se presentan las ventajas y los desafíos de abordar estas unidades en el aula de ELE. Para ello se analizan los documentos de referencia (MCER, PCIC) con el fin de extraer orientaciones para la adquisición de la competencia fraseológica, aplicables al glosario, como los niveles de referencia más adecuados para cada unidad fraseológica.
Se sigue una metodología cuantitativa y cualitativa, expuesta en el capítulo 4 donde se presentan las fichas metodológicas y la ficha lexicográfica que se aplicará en el glosario final. En el capítulo 5 se realiza el estudio cualitativo-cognitivo-contrastivo, a partir de una ficha metodológica individual para cada UF, que recoge ordenada y visualmente los mecanismos cognitivos metafóricos y metonímicos, las variantes si las hubiera, el registro lexicográfico, ejemplos del corpus, etc. información que permite comparar los resultados y comprobar las semejanzas y diferencias de las UF en su uso pragmático, en los mecanismos de extensión de significado y en el nivel de la equivalencia en ambos idiomas. Se procede a continuación, en el capítulo 6, al estudio estadístico a partir de la etiquetación de los ejemplos de cada una de las UF mediante variables que servirán para incluir datos esenciales en la entrada lexicográfica: la frecuencia de uso, de coaparición, la vigencia y la presencia de nuevos significados.
Entre las principales conclusiones de la tesis destacamos que la mayor parte de las UF presentan una equivalencia parcial e, incluso, en ocasiones, la locución española no se corresponde con un chengyu o guanyongyu, sino con una palabra o expresión, que se mantienen en el glosario con el propósito de facilitar el aprendizaje. Se confirma también que los somatismos, a pesar de las diferencias culturales, tienen cierto grado de universalidad por lo que se han hallado metáforas y metonimias similares en ambos idiomas (BOCA ES CONTENEDOR, BOCA POR PERSONA); mientras que, para transmitir el mismo significado, las locuciones pueden presentar diferentes mecanismos cognitivos. Por último, es importante indicar que este estudio ha permitido comprobar que las partes boca y lengua están estrechamente relacionadas con el hablar y algunas UF como (no) morderse la lengua, no tener pelos en la lengua, etc. tienen sus equivalentes en chino con la parte boca